|
Welcome to Our Remodeling Tips Newsletter Page where we
feature articles from our newsletter that range from
news about our company to helpful tips about remodeling
and home maintenance. We hope you enjoy the
articles and welcome your input.
To select a topic to read,
Click on the title below:
What
is Remodeling Magazine's "Big 50"?
Craftsmen
Wins A Chrysalis Award
Building
a Basement With Your Addition
Craftsmen
Raises The Flag
What
you should know about CCA-treated wood
Why
Mold and Other Ills Are Found In A Crawl Space
Guild
Quality Survey
How
To Choose The Right Contractor
Water
In The Crawl Space?
Landscape
Design and Construction by Craftsmen
NARI Certified Professionals
What
Is The White Buildup Around The Shower Drain?
Craftsmen
Named A TOP 500 Remodeling Firm
Craftsmen
Named A TOP 500 Remodeling Firm
By Qualified Remodeler Magazine
Qualified Remodeler is an essential business management
resource for more than 90,000 companies in the
remodeling industry.
Craftsmen Construction Company,
Charlotte, NC, has been named a Top 500 company by
Qualified Remodeler Magazine. The magazine publishes a top 500 list annually to
honor residential remodeling firms for financial
performance, revenue growth and dedication to
specialized services. Data is provided by remodeling firms and is
verified by certified public accountants, accounting
firms, banks and suppliers.
The 2000
top 500 list was published in the September issue of the
magazine and is available on the magazine’s popular
companion website at www.QRmagazine.com.
Companies
were officially honored at a reception on Wednesday,
October 18, 2000, in Detroit, MI.
Craftsmen Construction ranked #195 in 2000 on the
Qualified Remodeler Top 500 list. “The ranking is an
indicator that the goals we established in 1997 to
reorganize an already highly successful remodeling firm
into a regional remodeling leader have been
successful,” says Craftsmen’s Vice
President. “Though the ranking certainly distinguishes
us for our performance, our aim, however, has never been
to be one of Charlotte’s biggest remodeling
contractors. Goal one has always been to create a
company where exceptional service and an outstanding
product would result from our assembling the best
building talent utilizing exceptional management
systems. Company growth and financial success are
by-products of years of customer satisfaction.”
Craftsmen has been remodeling fine homes in the
Charlotte area since 1951 when it was founded by Boyce
M. Brown. Now led by his son David, Craftsmen
specializes in whole house remodeling and renovations as
well as the occasional custom home.
Founded
in 1975, Qualified Remodeler Magazine was the first
magazine dedicated to serving the residential remodeling
market. The
magazine is published by Cygnus Publishing, a division
of Cygnus Business Media, and serves an audience of more
than 90,000 residential remodeling firms.
What
Is The White Buildup Around The Shower Drain?
Q. Recently I've run into a couple of incidents where a
crystallized white substance has formed on the shower
floor and in the drain. In both cases the showers have
mud-set floors and are entirely tiled. The water is from
a public source. In one case, the drain was almost
entirely blocked. To clean it, we had to take a
screwdriver and chip it away. Is this a chemical
reaction of the tile grout with cleaning or shampoo
products?
A. Michael Byrne responds: There are a couple of
possible culprits. The first is efflorescence, which
occurs early in the life of a mortar bed installation
when minerals from the sand-cement-lime mix get
deposited on the tiles. It usually happens because too
much of a particular ingredient — hydrated lime or
Portland cement, for example — has been used. The
shower water brings salts and minerals to the surface of
the tile, and a white deposit is left behind when the
water evaporates. If materials within the mortar bed,
adhesive mortar, or grout are the problem, the
efflorescence should go away after 28 days — the
curing period for Portland cement products.
Efflorescence can also be caused by salts or minerals
being carried by an outside source of water. This
happens frequently when ground water seeps through a
foundation wall or slab. The cure here is to stop water
before it can enter a structure.
The buildup you're seeing might also indicate that the
weep holes in the shower drain are clogged. If the water
moving through the mortar bed to the weep holes can't
exit, the mortar bed will become saturated with water
that will wick upwards into the wall setting bed
materials, or through the floor tile grout joints where
it evaporates and leaves its mineral cargo behind on the
surface of the tiles.
Hard water is another possible explanation for the
buildup. You mentioned the water is from a public
source, so if the water is hard, it would be common
knowledge. Evidence of hard water is easy to find: Look
for deposits and crust on showerheads and tub spouts,
and for visible waterline marks around the inside of
toilet bowls. The best solution is to install a water
softener; otherwise, the buildup will continue and may
eventually clog the shower drain's weep holes.
Cleaners strong enough to remove lime, salt, or other
mineral deposits, yet safe enough for use with tiles are
available from most tile supply stores.
Contributing editor Michael Byrne is an expert tile
setter and consultant in Los Olivos, Calif.
NARI
Certified Professionals
Certified Remodeler (CR)
David W. Brown, President, GC, CR
Certified
Lead Carpenter (CLC)
Daniel Owens, Project Manager,
CLC
What does NARI Certification mean
to you?
Deciding to remodel your home is a big decision. Outside
of buying your home, it may be the single biggest
investment you make. You need to know that the
remodeling contractor you choose is a full-time,
dedicated remodeling professional. NARI's certification
program offers this assurance through its extensive
screening and testing process.
Only full-time, professional remodeling contractors are
eligible for certification by NARI. You can be assured
that any time you hire a NARI certified remodeling
contractor, you are hiring an individual who has made a
strong commitment to the professionalism of the
remodeling industry and to his or her business. And
because remodelers are not eligible for certification
until they have been actively involved in the remodeling
industry for at least five years, you know that the NARI
certified remodeling professional you hire has had a
number of years to develop the experience and skills
that can only be gained through extensive hands-on
practice.
How does a remodeling contractor become certified?
NARI certification is a challenging process, requiring
extensive knowledge of the industry and a commitment to
professional conduct. Even highly experienced and
skilled remodelers find the screening and testing
process formidable.
As a homeowner, you can gain a
sense of security knowing that the NARI certified
remodeling professional they hire has:
1. Received an acceptable review by the NARI
Certification Board by providing an outline detailing
their hands-on experience, industry training,
involvement in continuing education, technical skills,
practices in business management, as well as association
and community service.
2. Committed to intensive study on
a broad range of critical industry issues. Most
certification candidates participate in a formal study
group and spend eight to twelve weeks studying in
preparation for a one day written exam.
3. Successfully completed a
comprehensive written examination covering critical
subjects areas such as sound business management
practices, knowledge of building codes and construction
law, plans and specification, proper and safe use of
tools and equipment, safety, standards of practice,
math, and several special skill areas. Once awarded
their certification, NARI certified remodeling
professionals must meet annual re-certification
requirements involving continuing education and
participation in industry related programs.
NARI certified remodeling
professionals have pledged to abide by NARI's strict
Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
is the only national association dedicated solely to the
remodeling industry. NARI's focus is on professional
conduct, continuing education and training, and fair and
ethical treatment within the industry. NARI
certification of professional remodeling contractors
serves as the association's recognition of remodeling
professionals who have met stringent criteria for
experience and pledged a commitment to high standards of
practice and NARI's Code of Ethics.
Landscape
Design and Construction by Craftsmen
“Assimilating
the art of
landscape architecture and the construction
of fine craftsmen
to produce gardens of serenity and sanctuary.”
Did you know that Craftsmen
Construction not only renovates and remodels existing
homes and constructs new homes, but we offer full
landscaping design and construction services to meet
even the most discriminating tastes. Our integrated
landscape management services can free you from the
inefficiencies and loss of managerial control that comes
from the use of multiple contractors, designers and a
myriad of subcontractors.
Craftsmen
can coordinate the design, planning and implementation
of all of your landscape needs including:
§ Grading
§ Storm
drainage
§ Irrigation
§ Landscape
lighting
§ Brick,
stone, plain or stamped concrete walkways & patios
§ Cobblestone
unit paving
§ Chimneys
§ Landscape
plantings
§ Fountains
§ Decks,
Trellis’s, Pool Cabanas
§ Concrete
& asphalt driveways integrating designs &
borders
Whether
you are considering making major or even minor changes
to your home’s landscape, call Craftsmen Construction
first for an on site consultation.
How
To Choose The Right Contractor
There are few undertakings more
intimidating than the prospect of remodeling your home.
We hear this almost daily when we meet with new
customers.
Craftsmen Construction can be the last contractor you
ever need to call.
We understand your concerns, even
fears, about the process and have made it as simple as
possible. With Craftsmen Construction as you partner,
you won’t need to worry about:
-
Are they reliable? Can I trust them
in my house?
-
Will my project take twice as long
as the Contractor promised?
-
Are there lots of hidden costs or
add-ons that I will be surprised with?
-
Will the quality meet my
expectations?
-
Will the Contractor start when he
said he would?
-
Are they properly insured?
-
Will they be around in five years
when I need them?
Your Home is Hoping for
Craftsmen…Listen to Your Home and Give Us a Call Today
(704) 537-7337.
Guild
Quality Survey

Year after year we help people take
their dreams and ideas and build them into reality.
As most of you know, it starts with your
imagination for how you might improve upon your house.
Through many hours of design work and meetings,
we end up with a plan.
Next comes the construction.
We pride ourselves on providing the best quality workmanship
in the industry. We
also go to great lengths to ensure our clients receive
unmatched service throughout the entire project.
There are many people involved in
the production of a home addition or a kitchen
renovation. Every
one of them feels the satisfaction of a beautiful
project newly completed. But the greatest pleasures we receive are the
glowing compliments of a happy customer.
We at Craftsmen Construction are
always endeavoring to be sure we are providing you with
the very best service possible, at every stage of the
renovation, addition or custom home that we build.
Recently, we have subscribed to a
professional building-trades survey service, and many of
you have been contacted by Guild Quality and have
responded to their survey.
The results are overwhelmingly
positive, thanks to your responses.
*100%
of our customers would recommend Craftsmen to a friend
or family member.
The industry average is 60%.
*80.8%
of our customers indicated that the overall experience
was easier than expected.
*100%
satisfaction ratings based upon:
Expertise
used to build the project.
Organization and professional approach.
Use of new technologies and innovative techniques.
Keeping costs on budget.
Workmanship
Communication
Clean Work Site.
Trust
The response rate to the survey was
89% of our customers for whom we worked over the last
year.
We appreciate the positive feedback
that encourages us to continue providing the best
remodeling and custom home building services possible.
If you care to drop us a line, or
email us, we’d love to hear from you. If writing is not your thing, you can more than
thank us by recommending us to your friends and
relatives. The
lifeblood of our company is the continued support from
our many loyal customers.
We would like to take this
opportunity to thank you for your help in our
company’s success. We’d also like to thank you in advance for your
future support.
There has
been so much hype about mold in homes these days that we
wanted to take a look at the problem from a practical
and technical point of view.
Mold
is everywhere! In the air we breathe, in the food we
eat, even in the clothes we wear. There are over 100,000
different kinds of mold, some (about 400) are dangerous
(e.g. Stachybotrys). There are also beneficial molds, and without them
we would not have penicillin or blue cheese.
On any given
day, there are up to ten thousand mold spores in a cubic
yard of air. Most people can tolerate this, maybe sneeze
a little, but for the unfortunate few, who are allergic
to mold spores, this can be very unhealthy.
To control the growth of mold spores you must first
reduce the amount of moisture. Inside
a house we can control the moisture. Air
conditioning helps almost all the time.
Controlling moisture
in the crawl space, however, is an entirely
different matter. Crawl spaces are most commonly used in
the Southeast, which has high summer humidity and lots
of moisture in the soil (clay). Nutrients are everywhere
(wood structures, dust particles in the insulation and
in the soil). Mold spore counts in crawl spaces are
usually high, up to 10 times higher, than in outdoor
air.
Almost all
southern states building codes concerning crawl spaces
are geared towards preventing wood rot and/or (termites)
and not mold. Natural ventilation is considered adequate
as long as there are enough wall openings. Application
of a vapor barrier (6mil plastic) will allow the builder
to reduce the number of openings. However, the minimum
space requirement (crawl space floor to underside of
floor system) by building code is 18” or 24” inches
and this is not enough to create a sufficient airflow.
Even though this spacing is tighter than it should be,
the building code allows a tighter condition if treated
framing materials are substituted. Unfortunately, there
are many crawl spaces, where the clearance is 2 feet or
less. If you factor in the HVAC ducts, there is often no
room to wiggle left. Many HVAC units completely dissect
the crawl space and choke it. Almost all the crawl
spaces we have seen with a clearance of more than 4-5
feet have very few problems.
But what about mold and mildew?
In general,
wood rot can be avoided if the wood moisture content is
kept below 20% and/or 50ºF. The balance of 20% wood
moisture at 70ºF temperature in the crawl space
corresponds to 89% relative humidity. Most
recommendations are to lower the humidity to 40-60% in
order to stop mold and mildew from growing. This might
be possible inside the house, but impractical if not
impossible in the crawl space.
In a crawl space, a humidity level of 75% is considered
very dry and corresponds to a wood moisture of only
14.5%, which is considered very good during the summer.
Depending on soil conditions and geographic location
85-90% humidity is more likely during the summer months.
This means that mold is growing and releasing spores all
the time. It also means for all practical purposes that
you can only reduce the mold growth to a minimum but
never eliminate it completely.
Through the
years, we have seen so many moisture / water issues in
crawl spaces that we have become convinced that the best
mold and moisture preventative is to assure proper
ventilation of the crawl space. If the moisture level
can be mechanically controlled, then the home is no
longer held hostage by all of the possible home failures
that we have seen all too often. These moisture and
water issues include the following list (in the order of
severity):
- HVAC condensate lines or pumps not
working (or not properly installed) and spilling
water onto the ground
- Dryer vent pipe connections loose or
broken
- Yard irrigation systems too close to the
house and running too long
- Old walls left standing when an addition
was built
- HVAC ducts loose at manifold or at the
floor register
- Heavy sweating from the HVAC ducts and
coolant lines (insufficient or old insulation)
- Not enough wall vents
- Many dead corners (or even large zones)
with poor air circulation
- Shrubs growing to close to the house
- Water and sewer leaks
- Incorrectly installed (or missing) filter
doors in the HVAC
- Wall vents below grade level, usually
covered with debris
- Wall vents below grade with no airwell
walls to divert surface water away from vent
- Wall vents closed
- Wall vents of poor design
- Porches vented into the crawl space
- Low decks covering many wall openings.
You have
probably experienced at least a few of these problems.
Some can be easily remedied. A few are more costly. A
well-designed ventilation system that exchanges the
inside stale air with fresh outside air will greatly
improve the performance of your crawl space and will
help offset many of these issues outlined above. The
system that Craftsmen has installed and recommends is
called the ATMOX Crawl Space Ventilation System. Each
system is created based upon the specific needs of each
crawl space. For more information regarding this issue
please contact Thomas Huber 704-867-3772.
Water
In The Crawl Space?
The
rains of 2003 will last in the memories of Charlotteans
for years to come. On the heels of a four year drought,
the ground is not only replenished but saturated causing
the ground water to flow at much higher levels than in
previous years. When a home’s foundation is in this
water’s path, it becomes a collecting pool unless
protective provisions have already been made. As a
result, we have been receiving calls throughout the
Spring and Summer from frustrated homeowners who are now
experiencing wet crawl spaces and basements.
Craftsmen
regularly evaluates crawl space conditions.
Our advantage, as a general contractor that
specializes in residential remodeling, is that we are
looking at your crawl space or basement in the context
of its entire environment – not just one or two
specialties that may or may not be needed.
Proper
crawl space control is maintained through a thorough
review of your foundation drainage system, heating and
air conditioning systems (HVAC) and ventilation.
The
foundation drainage system is the primary water
preventative or removal method. If the home is new, this
is usually taken care of by an exterior French drain
system accompanied by a properly installed waterproofing
membrane. As the water hits the membrane, it drops down
and into the piping where it is then carried away from
the foundation by gravity or by pump. Older homes,
however, do not have the benefit of such a system and,
though it can be installed, our experience has proven
that this is a very expensive and often ineffective
solution to the problem. Though water may attack the
foundation walls, it will, in many circumstances, travel
under the foundation and enter the crawl space from the
inside. An interior French drain system, connected to a
sump pit, is a very cost-effective way of dealing with
these through-the-wall and ground water intrusions. A
trench is dug along the edge of the foundation in the
affected area allowing the water to flow directly into
and away through the perforated piping.
A
review of the current HVAC system(s) is also made.
We investigate un-insulated air
conditioning ducts, the condition of existing air ducts
(looking for signs that air is being sucked into the
house from the crawl space), missing or incorrectly
installed filter doors and broken or improperly run
dryer vent piping that can introduce a great deal of
moisture into the crawl space. Heavy
sweating from old
and un-insulated HVAC ducts can also cause
pools of
standing water. All of these and any other potential
water
and moisture sources must be investigated prior to
considering additional measures.
Finally,
we determine the adequacy of the ventilation available
to the crawl space.
We
investigate: The amount of space between the floor
system and crawl space surface – the taller the
better; the number of foundation vents available and the
effectiveness of these vents. Landscaping, for instance,
can greatly restrict the amount of air that otherwise
effective foundation vents can allow. We look for
additions such as decks and patios that may have been
built over former vent locations with no regard to their
effect on crawl space ventilation. We provide:
State-of-the-art, computer controlled foundation
ventilation systems that monitor the relative humidity
in the crawl space evaluating when the air needs to be
circulated and exchanged.
Craftsmen
provides solutions that are right for your unique
situation.
A high
level of moisture in a crawl space can have profound
effects on a wood floor system by introducing dry rot.
The home’s foundation can be compromised by moist or
water saturated soil. Don’t let water and moisture
problems surprise you. Let us assist you by evaluating
the conditions in your crawl space and in making the
appropriate recommendations for your home. Please call Ed
Dgien or David Brown to schedule a home visit
704-537-7337.
What
you should know about CCA-treated wood
Arsenic, a toxic chemical has been used for years to
treat wood for use in decks, play-scapes, patios,
walkways, picnic tables and fences. However, wood
with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a preservative
that contains an inorganic form of arsenic, has been
found to pose health risks to people and animals.
Arsenic leaches from CCA-treated wood, leaving residues
on the wood surface and in nearby soil. Young
children who play on or near play-scapes or decks made
from treated wood, can get arsenic on their skin and
into their bodies, especially if they eat or drink
without washing their hands. Over time, daily
exposure to arsenic can increase a person’s risk of
developing lung, skin and bladder cancers. Burning
treated wood or working with the treated wood without
proper protection may expose a person to arsenic and may
cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea.
Because of the health risks, as of December 31, 2003,
arsenic will no longer be used to treat wood for decks,
picnic tables, landscaping timbers, gazebos, residential
fencing patios, walkways, boardwalks and play
structures.
To protect children and others from arsenic in wood,
North Carolina health officials recommend using
alternative materials such as redwood, cedar, plastics
or composite materials for new structures. For
existing structures, state health officials recommend
using a penetrating sealant like an oil-based
semi-transparent stain to significantly reduce the
amount of arsenic released from the wood. Children
and others should wash hands thoroughly after coming in
contact with the wood, and especially before eating or
drinking. Do not burn treated wood, as toxic
chemicals are released in the smoke and become
concentrated in the ashes.
For a complete list of recommendations from the North
Carolina Medial Evaluation and Risk Assessment Branch of
the North Carolina Department of Health and Human
Services, visit www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/oii/cca.html,
or call the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology
Branch at (919) 733-3410.
(Editor’s note: The above information was
provided by Dr. Luanne Williams, a toxicologist with the
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.)
Craftsmen
Raises The Flag
Ever since the relocation to our new facility
at 4901 Silabert Avenue several years ago, we have been
on the lookout for a flag-pole. But, until recently, we
had been without luck until David Brown, Craftsmen’s
President ran into someone who happened to be selling
poles that had formally been used for street lighting.
Never one to turn down a bargain, David bought the 40
foot pole in hopes that he could modify it for our
purposes. Thus began a mission of careful restoration
and reconditioning requiring a painstaking effort that
has already become a part of Craftsmen folklore sure to
be passed down to future generations.
Our storage facility became the temporary home to what
became its dominant feature for many weeks. Evenings and
even some weekends were spent scraping, sanding,
painting and retrofitting. The length was cut down to 37
feet and capped off with a shiny brass ornament
representing the world.
The anchor for such a tall structure would
need to be substantial. A six foot deep by three foot
wide round hole was excavated in the front lawn. A
structural steel cage was assembled and lowered into the
hole with four one inch anchor-bolts integrated into the
cage. One and a half yards of concrete were placed into
the hole and given over a week to set up.
Our entire staff gathered recently on a chilly
Friday morning to join together in erecting a little bit
of Craftsmen history.
Craftsmen
Wins A Chrysalis Award
Continuing to set new standards of
professionalism, 108 remodeling companies from 35 states
were honored at the 7th annual Chrysalis
Awards for Remodeling Excellence on June 9th.
The awards, sponsored by Lowe’s companies and
Professional Remodelor Magazine, were presented at the
Southern Building Show in Charlotte, N.C.
Judged by the staff of the Southern Living
Magazine, Sunset Magazine, and Homestyles.com, the
winners were selected from over 600 entries in over 30
categories covering all aspects of remodeling. The
entries were judged on overall design, the creative use
of space and materials, and the degree to which the
project enhanced the original structure.
This year the special award for room additions
over $ 100,000 went to Craftsmen Construction Co., Inc.
of Charlotte, N.C. "It is unusual to win a
Chrysalis Award on their first attempt, and this says a
lot for Craftsmen Construction," says Ken Kanlane,
Awards Director.
The Chrysalis Awards program begun in 1994,
consists of 5 regional remodeling competitions, and
recognizes quality work in all types of projects and
price ranges in the South, Southwest, West, Midwest and
Northeast.
"By showcasing the "best of the
best" the Chrysalis Awards help increase quality
and professionalism throughout the industry," say
Lowe’s Vice-President Mike Brown.
The purpose of this renovation was to increase
the family living spaces of the den, kitchen and
breakfast room and have them be open to each other. The
renovation was designed for a large family and their
family gatherings. They desired a large open space to
enhance their family living. The result was the creation
of the "life-style triangle", family cooking,
family dining and family living area.
The solution to this expansion resulted in a
covered patio below for a shady area for the pool and a
large sunroom/breakfast room above. The addition was
enhanced by the roof detail of a gable and a shed,
allowing for a large arched window and exciting interior
ceiling lines. The exterior load-bearing wall was
removed and the existing second floor load was supported
by the installation of two steel I-beams which were
installed with a crane. The wall between the original
kitchen and den was also removed. This created a large
open family area including the kitchen, den and new
addition. The spaces were defined by the large island,
breakfast bar and interior columns.
The interior finishes were selected to
maintain the traditional style of the home, rich cherry
cabinets and granite countertops. The cherry cabinets
were continued into the den area to create a focal point
around the fireplace and media center. Also they were
designed for a new wet bar and home management center.
The kitchen design was an optimum working
kitchen with areas for food prep, cooking, serving and
clean up. Gracious storage for food, dishes and
equipment was provided. The original house was a basic
four-square, sited on a sloping lot with a lower level and a swimming pool in the rear yard.
Expanding the space on the main floor would result in a
lower level expansion as well.
Special recognition also goes to Charlotte In-Vironments
for designing this project with a fabulous working
kitchen, a sunroom/breakfast room with a view, a
spacious den/media room all open to each other for
family living and gracious entertaining. Finally, the
exterior design enhanced the rear elevation for a
beautiful view from the swimming pool.
BUILDING A BASEMENT WITH YOUR ADDITION
We are often asked to include
a basement under a new addition. Sometimes this is a
fairly simple task if the lot slopes right , the soil is
good, equipment access is easy, and the weather is
cooperative. Of course this is often not the case, so
every addition with a basement will be different. We
recommend spending the money to have soil samples taken
and analyzed to determine everything from the water
table level to the bearing capacity of the soil. This
information will enable the structural engineer to
properly size the concrete footer, and keep poor soil
from stopping the project. Once the plans are drawn,
then the best game plan must be turned into a workable
schedule.
After all work is scheduled,
it is time to start the preliminary demolition of the
existing house. This can include anything from removing
the brick veneer and old chimneys to the complete
demolition of an entire wing of the existing house.
Depending on how the new basement will line up with the
old house, it may be necessary to support the existing
house on temporary steel I-beams. After the preliminary
site work, we prefer to have the surveyor pin the
excavation area. Then we can dig, after deciding what to
do with the extra dirt. If good weather holds, the
bottom of the hole is soon leveled with a laser level
and an excavator. In most cases, the disturbed soil in
the floor area of the basement will need to mechanically
compacted.
We prefer a concrete basement
footer and wall system for its superior strength and
speed of installation. After our surveyors return to pin
the footing locations the footers are formed and laser
leveled. Steel rebar reinforcement is then added, and
the footings are poured right on the bottom of the
leveled basement excavation.
After the forms are stripped,
the basement wall steel reinforcing is tied in place.
Then steel forms are set on both sides of the walls and
filled with concrete. After the concrete sets up the
forms are removed and you have solid walls. The exterior
of the new walls should be waterproofed with an applied
waterproof membrane covered with a protection/drain
board. A French drain system, consisting of perforated
pipe and washed gravel covered with filter fabric should
be installed around the entire wall and either run into
a sump pump or sloped downhill to daylight. In some
cases, where ground water intrusion may be a factor, it
is wise to install a second French drain system under
the basement slab.
A minimum of 4" of gravel
will be added before the future slab is treated for
termites. The floor area is covered with 6 mil.
polyethylene as a vapor barrier. A reinforcing wire mesh
is laid over the poly before the final 4" inch
concrete slab is poured and finished. After the first
floor above is framed, it will be time to backfill
around the new basement, but you can’t backfill
completely because …, well that is another chapter of
this story.
As your can see, a lot of
planning and hard work go into building a basement.
Craftsmen Construction is dedicated to performing the
hard work it takes to construct the addition of your
dreams, with or without a basement.
What is the REMODELING “Big50”?
REMODELING Magazine's Annual “Big50” Award
The “Big 50” is a
remodeling business excellence award for best practices.
Every May, REMODELING inducts 50 new companies who have
set the standard for professionalism and integrity
through smart marketing, exemplary business practices,
unique design, and extraordinary impact on their
community or the industry at large. Big50 remodelers run
successful, growing companies of various sizes that have
taken the lead in raising the standards of the industry.
To date, more than 1,000 remodelers who have
demonstrated such excellence can boast being a member of
the Big50.
Making the Picks
Once they have received nominations - typically between
300 and 350 names -- the editorial staff goes to work
narrowing the field. Companies nominated by more
than one source are strong candidates, as are companies
who get strong recommendations from their peers. They
talk with a variety of people at the companies
themselves, and often to their competitors, clients,
suppliers, and subcontractors. Big50 contractors
must meet industry standards of operating excellence,
and must measure up to certain financial benchmarks.
After all this research is
complete, the REMODELING editorial staff selects 50
remodelers who exemplify the very best of the industry
and have something to offer other remodelers in proven
practices. Winners are matched to one of the following
categories:
Business Savvy:
remodelers with effective, established business
systems
Fine Design: remodelers with high aesthetic
standards for their projects
Industry Impact: remodelers who have taken an
active leadership role in industry building activities
Market Wise: remodelers who have built their
business around a keen understanding of the market
they serve
Movers & Shakers: larger remodeling
companies that aggressively expand their market share
Niches: remodelers who have built successful
companies serving an easily overlooked but profitable
corner of the market
Sales & Marketing: remodelers with
effective systems for obtaining leads and closing
sales
Teamwork: remodeling companies with personnel
who work together effectively to achieve more than the
sum of their individual work
Over the years, Big50 has
become a tightly-knit community of more than 1,000
remodelers who return regularly to the Remodeling
Leadership Conference, a two-day series of seminars that
include the awards banquet at which the current winners
are announced. One of the most valuable side benefits of
selection to the Big50 is the opportunity to build
relationships with other winners, many of whom keep in
touch with each other throughout the year.
In the end, the name
"Big50" is something of a misnomer, since the
awards have little to do with a company's size. The
award recognizes excellence and leadership, and the
companies who belong to this select group set an example
for the rest of the industry.
|